a bowl of fun

Food Friday: Pasta.

Posted on October 31, 2009 by admin1 Comment

Pasta from Pancake House. If I’m not mistaken, this pomodoro.

Break.

Posted on October 30, 2009 by adminNo Comments

It’s my son’s school break and finally we have more than a week to relax. I can now focus on my unfinished projects around the house. And of course, I get to take some time out for myself. We’ll just drop by the mall today to look for barcode scanner and some food shopping at the grocery. I will be stocking on food for the whole week so I can have the next week free.

5 Happy Foods.

Posted on October 30, 2009 by adminNo Comments

Winter squash is high in foliate and omega-3.

Your best source for Vitamin D is getting sunshine and making sure foods like Cow’s Milk, Shrimp, Cod, Sardines and Salmon are a part of your diet. If you don’t drink milk like moi than yogurts are the next best thing and a yummy source for Vitamin B-12.

Spinach has mega foliate and every other vitamin you need!

Walnuts are awesome for Omega-3 Fatty Acids and an easy snack.

Oranges are a must-eat for Foliate and other essential nutrients like Vitamin C and Fiber.

Source: http://myinspirationlounge.squarespace.com/.

For Halloween.

Posted on October 29, 2009 by adminNo Comments

The following is a paid review:

We had a bit of a hard time looking for a costume for our son for their school’s Halloween program. He does not want to wear very elaborate costumes complete with headpiece and other accessories. So after several trips to different malls, 4 to be exact, we got him a really simple pumpkin costume. I considered making him wear a sports uniform since he would still be able to wear it even after Halloween. The trouble with it though is finding a uniform set for kids his size can also be a challenge.

I wish I had come across NFLUniformSet.com earlier. I would have ordered his sports attire from there. They have a great selection of NFL Jerseys as well as other sports gear. They are having NFL Fan Locker Blowout Sale right now and they are selling the lockers at a really low and very tempting price. Their NFL uniform sets are likewise pocket-friendly. The uniform set includes a team helmet with logo, face mask, foam padding and chin straps. I can even add shoulder pads at a very minimal amount. I can also have the jersey customized by putting my son’s favorite number on his uniform. I know this will be a perfect gift for my son this coming Christmas and I can’t for him to wear it.

Car Talk.

Posted on October 28, 2009 by adminNo Comments

The recent typhoon that caused flooding and tremendous damage has made me more paranoid than I usually am. We were out of the house when the typhoon hit and we were stuck in one of the villages here. We couldn’t get out as all the streets going out were heavily flooded. If only we had a bigger car, maybe we could have braved the floods.

And because of that experience, I am seriously thinking of getting a bigger car for us. Not this year though, but DH said probably next year we can consider it. I already have my eyes on this particular family car. However we are still open to other brands and types of car. I came across buick, particularly the Enclave 2010 and I’m loving it. The interiors are spacious and it looks cozy and comfortable, just perfect for the whole family. There is ample room inside – legroom, headroom and cargo space, and it does look perfect for road trips. No wonder when it comes to comfort and quality, this car got 9 out of 10. And car is said to be quiet and smooth, you are in for a restful and relaxing ride. When it comes to safety, Buick is indeed one of the safest choice. It has top crash-test performance plus all the safety features. This is, without a doubt, an ideal family car.

11 Cancer Fighting Foods.

Posted on October 28, 2009 by adminNo Comments

1. Beans: Beans contain a number of phytochemicals, which have been shown to prevent or slow genetic damage to cells. While this makes beans beneficial for helping to reduce your risk of many types of cancer, specific research has suggested they are especially potent in preventing prostate cancer. As an added bonus, the high fiber content of beans has been connected with a lower risk of digestive cancers.

2. Berries: The two most widely studied cancer-fighting compounds in berries are ellagic acid (richest in strawberries and raspberries) and anthocyanosides (richest in blueberries). Ellagic acid is believed to help prevent skin, bladder, lung, and breast cancers, both by acting as an antioxidant and by slowing the reproduction of cancer cells. The anthocyanosides in blueberries are currently the most powerful antioxidants known to scientists and are beneficial in the prevention of all types of cancer.

3. Cruciferous Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale) Cruciferous vegetables-like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale-are rich in a variety of compounds that have been shown to slow cancer growth and development in a number of laboratory studies. Other larger human studies have shown that cruciferous vegetables can help to reduce the risk of lung, stomach, colorectal, prostate, and bladder cancers.

4. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: Leafy-green vegetables-like romaine lettuce, mustard greens, chicory, and Swiss chard-are rich sources of antioxidants called carotenoids. These compounds scavenge dangerous free radicals from the body before they can promote cancer growth. The vegetables are also rich in folate, a vitamin shown to reduce the risk of lung and breast cancer.

5. Flaxseed: Flaxseed in the form of oil and meal contains phytoestrogens believed to reduce the risk of breast, skin, and lung cancer. Research on the potency of flaxseed as an anti-cancer food is still underway.

6. Garlic (including onions, scallions, leeks, and chives): Garlic contains a number of compounds believed to slow or stop the growth of tumors. One such compound, diallyl disulfide, appears to be especially potent in protecting against skin, colon, and lung cancer, though it is not known exactly how it functions.

7. Grapes: Grapes and wine contain a chemical called resveratrol, which has been shown to be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Resveratrol is thought to work by preventing cell damage before it begins. Red and purple grapes are the richest sources of resveratrol.

8. Green Tea (decaf): Green tea is a rich source of a class of flavonoids known as catechins. Laboratory studies have shown that the catechins present in green tea are able to slow or prevent the development of cancer in colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells.

9. Soy: Soy is rich in isoflavones, compounds that have been shown to protect against cancer of the bladder, cervix, lung, and stomach. Soy also contains components that resemble some of the body’s natural hormones. These components may be beneficial in preventing breast and prostate cancers.

10. Tomatoes: The anti-cancer compound in tomatoes, lycopene, has been shown to be especially potent in combating prostate cancer. This compound appears to be more easily absorbed if the tomatoes are eaten in processed form-either as tomato sauce, paste, or juice. In addition to preventing prostate cancer, lycopene may also protect against breast, lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancer.

11. Whole Grains: Whole grains contain a variety of anti-cancer compounds, including fiber, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens. When eaten as part of a balanced diet, whole grains can help decrease the risk of developing most types of cancer.

* from http://lslw.stanford.edu/.

Oh Christmas Tree.

Posted on October 27, 2009 by adminNo Comments

We are soon going to put up the tree. And my son can’t wait. I would love to purchase another tree especially when I came across artificial christmas trees at FrontGate.com. I want a thinner tree this time and I plan to put it near the dining room. Although the husband said yes to this, I am having second thoughts as another tree means another set of ornaments, another expense. And another set of ornaments to put away after Christmas. I guess I just have to make do with our current tree and ornaments.

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating.

Posted on October 27, 2009 by adminNo Comments

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.

2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.

6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

I am eating #8. We always have a stock of sardines in the house, the bottled one in olive oil, as DH likes to pair it with pasta.

*snagged from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/.

Carrot Shake.

Posted on October 27, 2009 by adminNo Comments

I had this when we ate at Pancake House a few weeks back. We were at the mall to check on wind deflectors for the car. The husband didn’t find any so we will just get them from Carid.com. Anyway I didn’t like this shake at all. I requested them not to add sugar. But I never expected it to be tasteless, as in it tasted like water. They didn’t have a juicer and it looked like that they just grated the carrots. I should have just got my juice from Fruit Magic instead.

Ultimate Chocolate Brownies.

Posted on October 24, 2009 by admin2 Comments

Something that I willl definitely try.

Ingredients:
* 3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted and divided
* 1/2 cup boiling water
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
* ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING(recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13×9x2-inch baking pan or two 8-inch square baking pans.

2. Stir together cocoa and baking soda in large bowl; stir in 1/3 cup butter. Add boiling water; stir until mixture thickens. Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup butter; stir until smooth. Add flour, vanilla and salt; blend completely. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan, 30 to 35 minutes for square pans or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost with ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING. Cut into squares. About 36 brownies.

ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

{recipe and photo source}